Tenth Generation


9536. Laura Belle PHILBRICK2052 was born on 14 October 1894 in Richmond, Fort Bend, Texas.2051,2052

She appeared in the census on 6 June 1900 in Fort Bend County, Texas.493 Age 5, born Oct 1894 Texas, father born Massachusetts, mother Louisiana, living with parents. Name on census: Belle Filbrick.

She appeared in the census on 25 April 1910 in Houston, Harris, Texas.493 Age 16, separated, born Texas, father born Massachusetts, mother Lousiana, living with mother. Name on census: Bell Holland.

Laura appeared in the census on 10 April 1930 in Houston, Harris, Texas.493 Age 36, married, born Texas, father born Massachusetts, mother Texas. She was living with husband Robert, 39, and children Maybelle, 14, Robert E. Jr., 11, Rosemary, 7, Edward L., 4, and Edith F., 2. Also living there was her mother Hannah. Name on census: Loura B. Birmingham.

She died on 17 July 1961 at the age of 66 in Houston, Harris, Texas.2052 She was buried at Brookside Memorial Cemetery in Houston, Harris, Texas.2052 Laura Belle was known to all as Grandma. Of course her children
called her Mama but she was grandma. She was also one of the very
finest human beings I have ever known. When Mom and I first moved to
Post street in Houston I was only 5 years old. Mom had to work to
support us so grandma watched over me during the day. The part of
Houston we lived in was a little rustic because there were no
utilities in the area and therefore the house did not have electricity
or indoor plumbing. We all bathed in a #3 wash tub getting hot water
from a kerosine cook stove. The toilet was about 100 feet behind the
house and the water well was just outside the back door and produced
the sweetest and best tasting water you could imagine. Later on I
found out the well was about 55 feet deep and the water would rise in
the well pipe to within a couple feet of the ground surface. The area
was a piney wood Forest and always smelled fresh and clean. It was
not long before I spent more time in the woods than the house area. I
would often spend all day in the woods and would eat the goodies
grandma packed for me. When it came to eating meals in the house there
were a few rules that needed to be understood. First, there was no
talking at the table except to ask for something. There was a
specific time to eat and if you wanted to eat you needed to be there
at meal time. It was always necessary to wash before eating, otherwise
you didn't eat. On those occasions when there was company for Sunday
dinner (Lunch) children were never allowed to eat at the same time as
the adults. This was never a problem for me because grandma would
always see to it that I had the best of all of the food and besides it
was not important for me to sit at a crowded table of adults who often
broke rule #1, talking. Sometimes on a hot summer day grandma would
surprise me with a slice of watermelon or cantaloupe. Grandma loved me
and helped to spoil me rotten. There were occasions when grandma
refused to cook and those times were the Sunday breakfasts when Papa
wanted calf brains and eggs. Papa cooked it and he and I ate the
whole thing. I could not see myself eating Calf brains now but then,
if Papa ate it I would too, no questions asked.
Grandma had a bad hip. I am not sure what the problem was but at one
point in time she spent 6 months in a body cast. (The 6 month time may
not be accurate but it is what I recollect it being) When the cast was
removed she walked with a very severe limp. Even after I had grown to
adulthood I never heard grandma complain about her ailments. Now she
would tear into Papa if he did something to make her mad. She would
also get upset with her son Eddie but the rest of us pretty well
stayed on her good side. I know grandma is watching over me now and
will continue to do so until I am called home.

Laura Belle died of Cardio Circulatory Collapse due to Coronary Occlusion

Laura Belle PHILBRICK and a HOLLAND were married about 1909.2052,2711

a HOLLAND994 was born (date unknown).

Laura Belle PHILBRICK and Robert Emitt "Bob" BIRMINGHAM were married in 1910 in Houston, Harris, Texas.2052

Robert Emitt "Bob" BIRMINGHAM2052 was born on 4 April 1890 in Inez, Victoria, Texas.493,2052

He appeared in the census on 10 April 1930 in Houston, Harris, Texas.493 Age 39, married, born Texas, parents born Texas. He was a painter in the building trade and his household included his wife Laura, their 5 children, and his mother-in-law Hannah. Name on census: Robert E. Birmingham.

He died on 30 April 1961 at the age of 71 in Houston, Harris, Texas.2052 Bob was buried at Brookside Memorial Cemetery in Houston, Harris, Texas.2052

Robert E. Birmingham supported his family as a self employed painter
and paper hanger. He was affectionately known as Papa to his children
and grand children and a very fine and honest man to all who knew him.
Papa smoked Bull Durham tobacco for many years before going to what he
called "ready rolls". He also enjoyed beer, some time to excess, and
occasional nips of hard liquor. Papa was also a musician. He could play
the guitar and the "fiddle" as he called the violin. Many times he anduncle
Calvin would sit in the yard and play
for the family and friends. The instrumental that was always included
was "Under the Double Eagle".
Papa was very close to his brothers and sisters but the distance
between Victoria, San Antonio and Houston eventually resulted in fewer
contacts. Brother Edward (Uncle Ed) continued to visit Papa and
family until he became to ill to make the trip.
Papa had been told by the Doctors that he needed to stop smoking
because it was causing damage to his lungs and blood circulation to
his legs. Apparently he didn't think quitting tobacco was necessary
and eventually lost his left leg to circulation problems. The loss of
the leg did little to slow Papa down because soon he was back to
painting my house. Ultimately his lungs were unable to sustain life
and he died in the arms of his grandson Clyde Pray Jr..
In one of Papas more creative moments he decided to make a batch of
raisin jack. To the uninformed, this is an alcoholic beverage made
by fermenting raisins in the same manor one would make wine. The
quality of the beverage is certainly in question. When the process
was completed Papa needed to dispose of the raisins. At this time we
had a number of chickens and Papa thought it reasonable to give the
raisins to the chickens. Pretty soon Mom (Maybelle Birmingham) saw
all of the chickens lying on their back with their feet sticking
straight up into the air. As it turns out, every chicken in the yard
was drunk from eating the raisins.
On another occasion, Papa and his son-in-law Calvin Adair decided to
make some beer. I suppose the process was simple because in a short
time they began to bottle the brew. Well, apparently the pressure of
the carbonation began to build in the bottles until the caps started
blowing off. There was beer all over Grandmas back porch and Grandma
all over Papa.

Robert died of Cardio Circulatory Collapse due to Metastatic Carcinomafrom a Carcinoma of the left lung.

Laura Belle PHILBRICK-52080 and Robert Emitt "Bob" BIRMINGHAM-52177 had the following children:

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i.

Florence Marie BIRMINGHAM-52092.

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ii.

Evelyn Roselia BIRMINGHAM-52103.

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iii.

Maybelle Delores "May" BIRMINGHAM-52108.

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iv.

Robert E. BIRMINGHAM , Jr-52109.

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v.

Rose Mary "Rosie" BIRMINGHAM-52113.

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vi.

Edward Lee "Eddie" BIRMINGHAM-52115.

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vii.

Edith Fay BIRMINGHAM-52116.
Last Updated: 12 March 2013